UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Report says Shabazz Muhammad's age is 20, not 19 years old

AUSTIN, Texas - In a tumultuous season that began with a three-game suspension by the NCAA, the oddest note in Shabazz Muhammad's journey emerged hours before his March Madness debut.

A Los Angeles Times revealed Friday that UCLA's freshman star is not 19 years old, but 20.

The article explored how Muhammad's father, Ron Holmes, carefully crafted a path to athletic success - one that apparently included fudging his son's year of birth.

Muhammad's birthday had long been reported as Nov. 13, 1993, and was listed as such in the UCLA media guide.

However, a copy of his birth certificate obtained by the Times lists it as Nov. 12, 1992. While it isn't clear how, why, or when his age changed, facing younger players while he was growing up may have given him a slight edge.

After initially claiming the 1992 listing must be a mistake, Holmes later admitted to Muhammad's true age.

He also sent the Times reporter this text: "Bazz is going to blow up in the NBA lets team up and blow this thing up!!! I'm going to need a publicist anyway why shouldn't it be you. We can do some big things together."

Long considered to be a "one-and-done," Muhammad's college career will likely be limited to this lone season with the Bruins. He is currently being talked about as a top-five or top-10 pick in the NBA Draft, something the age change shouldn't affect dramatically.

The Times story also revealed that Holmes agreed to use only the name "Ronald Holmes" as a parole condition in 2000. He pleaded guilty to using false bank statements and tax returns to secure mortgages, and served house arrest for six months.

Almost a Gopher?

If bad weather hadn't intervened, all those championship banners in Pauley Pavilion might have ended up in Minnesota.

UCLA coach Ben Howland said Thursday that facing the Gophers in the NCAA Tournament reminded him of a story about famed Bruins coach John Wooden. Wooden, Howland said, had expected to become Minnesota's head coach in 1948 after coaching for two seasons at Indiana State.

His wife, Nellie, had wanted to wanted to move there to stay close to her family in the Midwest. But a storm cut off communication between Wooden and the Gophers, and the Bruins took advantage.

"That was his first choice," Howland said. "He was expecting a call at a certain hour from Minnesota, and they had such a horrible storm - shocking - that it knocked down the phone lines and UCLA in the meantime called and he accepted the job to be the head coach at UCLA.

"And then about an hour later when Minnesota called, he explained to them, `I've already given my word, and I'm accepted the position as head coach at UCLA."'